Double hung door mounting and latching means



Nv.`4, 1941. R. Daw 2,261,146

DOUBLE HUNG DOQR MOUNTING AND LATCHING MEANS BY W l f I ATTORNEY.

Nov. 4, 1941. R, Dow 2,261,146

DOUBLE HUNGl DOOR MOUNTINGAND -LATCHING MEANS Filed Oct. l, 1938 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov.l 4, l1941 OFFICE DOUBLE HUNG DOB-MOUNTING AND LATCHING MEANS Robert Dow. Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October l, 1938, Serial No. 232,787

8 Claims.

My invention relates to door mounting and latching means and has for its principal object, to provide relatively simple, practical and inex- -pensive means that may be conveniently assoelated with and applied to doors so that the same open and swing either to the right or left hand and which advantageous result is particularly desirable in portable structures, for instance, the now generally used electric refrigerators, cooling closets, cabinets, and the like,

Practically all refrigerators and cabinets of the one door'type now manufactured are provided with doors that open and swing toward the right hand and where conditions are encountered that require a refrigerator having a door that must be opened and swung toward the left hand, it is necessary to produce such structure to order, thus involving manufacturing delays, inconvenience and added expense.

A further object of my invention is, to provide simple and eiiicient means for mounting and latching the doors of refrigerators and like portable structures that in no wise detracts from the general appearance of the refrigerator or other structure, but on the other hand the mounting and latching means being constructed and disposed so as to produce a pleasing and effective balanced or uniform appearance.

A further object of my invention is, to provide door mounting and latching means of the character referred to that is inexpensive of manufacture, capable of easy installation, positive in operation andV in its latching functions, capable of being easilyand quickly adjusted so as to operate with maximum emciency and further, to provide door mounting and latching means comprising four units, each composed of a member that functions as aI hinge butt to be applied to the frame or structure that surrounds the door and a co-operating member that is applied to the door and which functions as a combined butt and latching finger.

A further object of my invention is, to provide door mounting and latching means that will be highly effective in maintaining the door in proper operating condition at all times and which will counteract all tendency of the door to sag on either side and which undesirable result frequently occurs in refrigerators of conventional ,construction wherein the door is connected to the refrigerator body by hinges at one side only of the door opening.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that .will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a door and door frame and showing my improved mounting and latching means associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a sliding plate utilized in connection with the door mounting and latching means.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 'I is a vertical section taken lengthwise through a modied form of the combined door mounting and latching means.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view partly in section taken approximately on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9--9 of F18. 8. y

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the combined butt and latching linger that is applied tothe door.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail section showing the inter-engaging portions of the hinge and latch and particularly the modified form illustrated in Figs. 'l and 8.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 8. I

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawingsand particularly to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive which illustrate one form of the mounting and latching means, I9 designates the front wall or frame of a refrigerator or like portable structure, I l the o door opening therein and l2 the door that norinaliy closes said opening.

Suitably secured to the front face o f the wall I0 or frame bymeans of screws I3 or like fastening devices, are hinge butts Il and formed integral therewith and projecting outwardly adjacent the upper and lower ends of said butts are lugs I5 that are provided with vertically aligned apertures I6. These butts' are preferably arranged immediately to the sides of the door 5 opening II adjacent the top and bottom thereof.'

in order to present a symmetrical appearance and in order to perform their intended hinge functions. I

.Suitably secured to the side edges of the door I2, preferably by means of screws Il directly opposite the butts I4, are angleplates I3 that function as hinge butts and the outer ends of menue 42 that projects through an opening 43`in plate Il and the opposite end of said spring detent being suitably secured to the plate, preferably by means of a screw 44. When plunger 22 is at its outward limit 'of movement to hold the pins 2l in position to function as hinge pintles, the free end l of the detent 42 bears against the intermediate of each pair of pins are pivotally connected to the outer ends of toggle links 2| that are positioned in the central portion of the tubular member I9. 'I'he inner ends of each pair of toggle links are pivotally connected to the outer end of a horizontally disposed plunger 22, the latter being mounted for horizontal sliding movement in a pocket 23 that is formed in the door I2.

The inner end of each plunger 22 is pivotallyv connected to the outer end of link 24. which latter is arranged for sliding movement through a bearing 25 that is located ixi the corresponding pocket 23. Interposed between bearing 25 and the end of plunger 22 and surrounding link 24l is an expansive coil spring 25 that normally tends to force the corresponding plunger 22 outwardly and straighten the toggle links 2| so as to move pins 20' outwardly from the ends of tube I8. The inner ends of the links 24 on each side of the door are pivotally connected to the upper and lower ends respectively of a pair of vertically disposed levers 21 that are pivoted at 28 intermediate their ends within the door structure and, the lower end of the upper one of these levers and the upper end of the lower lever have pivotal and sliding connection with a pin 29 that projects from the inner end of a plate 30, the latter being mounted for horizontal sliding movement within the door II, preferably at a point midway between the upper and lower members oi' the combined hinges and latching devices. V'I'he end of plate 30 opposite the end that is connected to the/levers 21 is held for sliding movement in a keeper 3| and the central portion of plate 30 is extended forwardly relative to its end portions and, formed in said forwardly extended portion is a substantially disposed slot 32.

Mounted on the front face of the door l2 immediately in front of the sliding plate 331s a block 33 and arranged for horizontal sliding movement therethrough is a rod 34. Projecting from the intermediate portion of this rod rearwardly through slots 35 that are formed in the rear portion of said block and the front wall of the door I2, is a finger 3i that projects through slot 32 in plate 3L Pivotally mounted betweenl ears that Y,are formed on the front face of block 33 is one end of a short horizontally disposed hand lever V31 and projecting inwardly from the pivoted end of this lever through a slot 38 that is formed in block 33 is a finger 39 that engages in a notch 4|I formed in sliding rod 34.

The construction just described provides means for manually swinging the levers 21 on their fulcrums so as to actuate the plungers 22 and toggle links 2| to withdraw the pins 20 from the lugs I and which operation takes place when the door is opened.

It will be understood that when the pins function as hinge pintles the outer ends of said pins engage in the perforated lugs I5, thereby providing a vertical axis upon which the door swings during its opening and closing movements.

Formed in the plunger 22 adjacent its outer end is a notch 4| which under certain conditions receives the end of a detent. preferably a spring portion of the surface of plunger 22 a short distance inwardly from the notch 4| (see Fig. 5).

The outer ends of the apertures in lugs I5 are closed by plugs 45 which may be shaped and fin'- ished soas to present a neat and pleasing appearance.

The door when swung on either set of trunnions, i. e., opened either toward the right or left hand, can not sag out of alignment due to the fact that the engagement of the ends of the pins 2|I in the lugs I5 establishes and maintains an exact relationship between the pintle pins and, consequently sagging of the door is effectually prevented.

Where this form of door mounting and latching means is utilized and the door is closed, the outer ends of the pins 20 engage in the apertures in the lugs I5 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and thus the door is maintained in a securely latched condition at four points, thus counteracting any tendency of the door to sag as a result of being supported by hinges onone side of the door only.

To open the door, one of the handles 31 is manually engaged and pulled outwardly away from the door, which movement swings said handle upon its fulcrum and the finger 35 carried by the actuated handle will move rod 34 through the block 33, and linger 35 projecting from said rod will impart corresponding sliding movement to plate30. As one end of this plate has pivotal and sliding movement with the ends of the corresponding pair of levers 21, the latter will be swung on their fulcrums 28 so as to exert pulling strains on the links 24 against the resistance oi'- fered by the expansive springs 25 and such pulling movement will be imparted to the plungers 22. As such movement takes piace, the toggle links 2| connected to the actuated plungers will be drawn into inclined positions as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus pulling the correspondlng pins 20 toward each other through the tube I9 and withdrawing the ends oi said plungers from the lugs I5.

Thus the side of the door on which the actuated handle 31 is located is unlatched and said door may be swung open with -the pins 2l on fthe opposite side of the door functioning as hinge pintles.

As the plungers 22 are actuated during the opening movement just described, they move into position so that the notches 4| receive the ends of the spring detents 42 and this engagement of the detents with the plungers is suillcient to hold said plungers against outward movement as result of the force exerted by the springs 25.

When the door is closed, the slight shock resulting from the contact of the free edge of the door with the door frame is sufficient to disengage the ends of the spring detents from the notches 4| and, when such disengagement takes place the springs 26 will act instantly to force e plungers 22 outward and, through links 2| the pins 20 will be moved outward so that their outer ends engage in the perforated lugs I5, thus latching the door in closed position.

In the form of door mounting and latch illustrated in Figs. '1 to ll inclusive, butts 46 are mounted on the front face of the door frame 23enne y l to take up any lost motion resulting from wear` portions of the door |2. A

Formed :in each butt 46 and extending downwardly from the notch 41 therein is a recess 50 and mounted for limited rocking movement therein is an upright finger or lever that functions both as a hinging and latchingelement. Secured to the inner face of butt 46 below notch 41 is the lower end of a flat spring 52, they upper portion of which bears against the upper yportion -of the rear face of finger 6| so as to exert a limited degree of yielding pressure against butt 46, tending to move same into the recess 50.

Recess 58 and finger 5| are shaped so that said inger may swing or rock for a limited distance toward and away from the face of the frame to which the butt is secured and during such movement. the lower rounded end of the finger rocks on the bottom of the recess.

Secured to the side face of butt 46 opposite the side that is adjacent the door opening, is the lower end of a spring l53, the upper portion of which is normally spaced apart from the surface of the butt and projecting from the upper portion' of said spring through an aperture 54 into recess 50 is a pin 55, which when the finger 5| is in a vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 7 is adapted to engage in a recess 56 that is formed in the side of said finger and yieldingly retain the same in such vertical position. y

To release the nger, it is only necessary to pull the upper end of the spring 53 outwardly, thus disengaging pin 55 from recess 56.

The bottom of recess 56 is inclined so that when the rounded end of pin 55 bears against said inclined surface under the pressure of spring 63, the tendency is for. linger 5| to exert a certain or from long usage the screw 69 may be conveniently adjusted so as to provide bearing for said linger 48.

Formed in the upper surface of the end portion of linger 48 is an arcuate groove 60 that is concentric with the axis provided by the stud 51 and screw 69 and, projecting into said groove is the Vlower end of a pin 6| that is seated in the butt 46 above the notch 41.

The pin and slot connections just described are for the purpose of preventing the door from becoming bodily disengaged from the refrigerator degree of pressure against nger 48, thereby pressing the door to which said finger is connected against its lamb or frame and thus increaseA the effectiveness of the joint between the door and jamb or frame. This effect is advantageous where the mountings are applied to a refrigerator and packing members of rubber tubing or the like Aare utilized between the door and its jamb or frame.

Projecting upwardly from linger 5I into the notch 41 is a substantially dome-shaped stud 51 which denes on the frame a vertical hinge axis for the door, when-the lever 5| is in upright p0- sition, as shown in Fig. '1. 'I'his lever 5| swings from a diagonal or outwardly sloping position, as

shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7, to a position substantially parallel to the hinge axis, as shown in full lines in Fig. 7.

Positioned behind the upper portion of the butt 46 and above the notch 41 is a separately formed plate 58 and screw seated in the lower portion of said plate is a screw 59 having a rounded lower end that projects into notch 41 and this screw is in direct vertical alignment with the stud 51. The screw 59 serves as an adjustable abutment against which the projecting member 48 is forced by the lever 5| when the projecting member 58 of the door is moved into position on the hinge axis, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8.

When nger 48 of the butt 49 that is mounted on the door is positioned in notch 41, the rounded lower end of the screw 59 provides a bearing or other structure in the event that either side of the door has not been entirely closed and an vattempt is made to swing the door open from the v side that is entirely closed.

Formed in the under side of finger 48 adjacent the edge that first enters the notch 41 is a concave or substantially semispherical recess 62 adapted to snugly receive the stud 51 and the material in nger 48 between this recess 62 and the forward edge of the finger is cut away to form a notch 63. Thepurpose of this notch is to permit the stud 51 to enter the recess 62 when the nger 5I occupies an inclined position in the recess 50 and the nger 48 enters notch 41 at the end of the closing movement imparted to the door (see Fig. 11) When iinger 5I is in vertical position as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 and by dotted lines in Fig. ll, the nger 48 can not be Withdrawn from the stud 51 on theupper end of said finger.

Where this form of door hinging and latching means is utilized, the studs 51 and screws 59 conf stitute axes on which the door may swing and under such conditions, the fingers 5| are maintained in vertical positions in their respective recesses by the engagement of the spring-held pins 65 in the recesses 56 in said fingers. v

`To open the door, the upper ends of the springs 53 of the hinges adjacent the edge of the door that is to be opened are pulled outward to disengage pins 55 from recesses 56 and the corresponding handle of the door which is located on the front face thereof adjacent the side and preferably midway between the butts 49 is engaged and the door is pulled outward, with the result that the corresponding fingers 48 will be pulled forwardly out of the notches 41 in which they have been engaged and out of engagement with the corresponding studs 51, screws 59, and pins 6|. As the fingers 48 are thus pulled out of the notches 41, the ngers 5I in the recesses 50 will be moved from vertical to inclined positions in said notches and thus the studs 51 will be in position to re-enter the recesses 62 when the door is subsequently closed.

In this form of hinge and latch, it is only necessary to equip the two uppermost butts 46 with the nger latching means comprising the springs 53 and pins 55. When the fingers 48 on the free edge of the door move into the notches 41 as the door is closed, the upper portions of the studs 51 will pass into the notches 63, and when the studs strike against the rear portions of the surfaces of the recesses 62 the fingers 5| will be shifted from their inclined positions into vertical positions in valignment with the bearing Screws 59. As the positions.

Thus, the construction just described functions for the upper surface of said finger and, in order for the hinging and latching of the door and by the desired solid manipulating the corresponding one of the pincarrying members 53, the door may be swung open from either side of the refrigerator or other structure to which the door is applied.

Where my improved door mounting and latch ing means is utilized on refrigerators,.the conventional packing element that is disposed between the door and the refrigerator cabinet is compressed uniformly, thus maintaining a prac tically perfect seal and, in the event that the packing element in time loses a part of its resilience or there is wear between the fingers 48 and the butts I6 and parts carried thereby, the resilience of the springs 53 forces the pins 55 against the inclined bottoms of the recesses 55, thus tending to take up any slack or lost motion and maintain the desired tight joint between the door and cabinet. I

In the constructions illustrated and described, the door mounting and latching means is set forth as applicable to the doors of cabinets or the like, which are approached from one face only. It will be understood that practically the same structure with minor changes is equally applicable to doors that are approched from both faces, i. e., ordinary doors used in building construction.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a door mounting and latching means that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very eiiective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size; form and construction of the various parts of my improved double hung door mounting and latching' means, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the ap pendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a door latching and hinging means for connecting a door part to a trame part, the combination of: a member having engagement means projecting from one of said parts so as to lie on a hinge axis when said door and frame parts are in cooperating relation; a lever connected to the other of said parts for swinging movement about its lower end so as to swing from a position i slightly inclined outwardly from parallel to said hinge axis to a position materially sloping outward from said hinge axis, said lever having means at its upper end making interengagement with the engagement' means of said prof jecting member when it is in said position slightly inclined outwardly from parallel to said hinge axis whereby to support the static load transmitted from one of said parts to the other oi said parts and to form a hinge on which said parts may have relative swinging movement; and means for holding said lever in a position of interengagement with said projecting member.

2. In a door latchingand hinging means for connecting a door part to a frame part, the combination of: a member having engagement means projecting from one of said parts so as to lie on a hinge axis when said door and frame parts are in cooperating relation; a lever connected to the other of said parts for swinging movement about its lower end having means at its upper end making interengagement with the engagement means of said projecting member, said lever being swingable from a materially outwardly sloping position to a position in which a. line drawn through the place around which said lever has pivotal movement ,and the intere'ngagement meansv oi' said lever is in a, position slightly inclined outwardly from parallel to said hinge axis. said last mentioned means making interengagement with said projecting member when said lever is in said slightly inclined position whereby to support the static load transmitted from one o! said parts to the other of said parts and to form a hinge on which said parts may have relative swinging movement; and means for holding said lever in a position of interengagement with said projecting member.

3. In a door latching and hinging means for connecting a door part to a frame part. the combination of: a member projecting from one o! said parts so as to lie on a hinge axis when said door and frame parts are in cooperating relation; a lever connected to the other of said parts so as to swing from a position substantially parallel to said hinge axis to a. position sloping outward from said hinge axis, said lever having means at its upper end making interengagement with said projecting member when it is in said position substantially parallel to said hinge` axis whereby to support the static load transmitted from one of said parts to the other of said parts and to form a hinge on which said parts may have relative swinging movement; an abutment adjustably disposed on said other of said parts abovethe upper -end of said lever to limit the upward movement of said projecting member when it is on said hinge axis and in interengagement with the upper end oi' said lever: and releasable means to hold said lever in said position substantially parallel to said hinge axis.

4. In a door latching and hinging means i'or connecting a door part to a frame part, the combination of: a member projecting from one of said parts so as to lie on a hinge axis when said door and frame parts are in cooperating relation; a lever connected to the other of said parts so as to swing from a position substantially parallel to said hinge axis to a position sloping outward from said hinge axis, saidlever' having means at its upper end making interengagement with said projecting member when it is in said position substantially parallel to said hinge axis whereby to support the static load transmitted from one of said parts to the other-of said parts and to form a hinge on which said parts may have relativeswinging movement; and releasable means to hold said projecting member on said hinge axis when said door and frame parts are swung relatively around said hinge axis. said releasable means comprising a wall on one of said parts having an arcuate groove generated around said hinge axis when said -parts are in closed relation, and a projection to enter said groove when said parts are swung out of said closed position on said hinge axis.

5. In a door latching and hinging means for connecting a door part and a frame part, the combination of: a member having engagement ymeans projecting from one of said parts so as to so formed as to make a single hinging interen-- gagement with the engagement means of said projecting member at a place substantially on said hinge axis when said projecting member is on said hinge axis and to force said projecting member against' said abutment; and means for holding said lever in a position of interengagement with said projecting member.

6. In a door latching and hinging means for connecting a door part and a frame part, the combination of: a member projecting from one of said parts so as to lie on said hinge axis when said door and. frame parts are in cooperating relation, said projecting member having a socket l in the bottom thereof; an abutment on the other of said parts positioned so as to lie on the side of said projecting member opposite from said socket when said projecting member is on said hinge axis; and a lever pivotally connected to said other of said parts at a point spaced from said abutment and so as to swing from outwardly sloping position to a position substantially aligned with said hinge axis, the upper end of said lever having a single place of engagement with said projecting member and being formed so as to engage said socket and force said projecting member against said abutment as said projecting member is moved into position on said hinge axis.

7. In a door latching and hinging means for connecting a door part and a frame part, the combination of: a member projecting from one of saidv parts so as to lie on said hinge axis when said door and frame parts are in cooperating relation, said projecting member having a socket in the bottom thereof; a stationary adjustable abutment on the other of said parts positioned so as to lie on the side of said projecting member opposite from said socket when said projecting member is on said hinge axis; a lever pivotally connected to said other of said parts at a point spaced from said abutment and so as to swing from outwardly sloping position to a position substantially aligned with said hinge axis, the upper end of said lever being formed so as to engage said socket and force said projecting member against said abutment as said projecting member is moved into position on said hinge axis and releasable means to hold said lever in said position substantially aligned with said hinge axis.

8. In a latching and hinging means for counecting relatively movable parts, the combination of: a body on one of said parts adapted to lie on a hinge axis when said parts are in connected relation; an abutment on the other of said parts disposed above said body when it is on said hinge axis; a lever pivotally supported on said other 

